The Power of Professional Friendship During My Battle With Breast Cancer

Since my breast cancer diagnosis on 12 June, I've been deeply moved by the outpouring of support from my professional community. Thank you.

In just a few weeks, I've already encountered countless women, many professionals, battling breast cancer. It's staggering to learn that one in seven women face this diagnosis. As we navigate demanding careers, often against significant odds as it is, being hit with a severe health challenge at the peak of our professional lives feels like a harsh blow, especially for those of us who are just starting to see the fruits of our labour.

After my announcement on LinkedIn, many praised my bravery for sharing my situation, just as they did when I embarked on my sobriety journey four years ago. But in all honesty, I don't know how to be any other way.

Leading through open communication, transparency, and authenticity isn't just something I preach about in my professional life; it's inherently who I am. I can almost hear my friend Wendy Sarkissian saying in her Canadian accent, "Becky, you are the real deal."

Receiving a cancer diagnosis feels surreal. It's a rollercoaster of emotions. I immediately knew that the energy I’ve poured outward into the world for so long now needed to turn inward, focusing every ounce of strength on my treatment, recovery, and healing. My partner and children, who are living this alongside me, have also been at the forefront of my thoughts and decisions.

But stepping away from my work life so abruptly led to an unexpected twist.

It felt like my career began to peak right before my eyes.

Being told I have a life-threatening disease should have brought me to tears, as should the news of needing surgery or chemotherapy. Yet, my biggest emotional moments have been tied to my work.

In the weeks following my diagnosis, I learned I had won a significant project with an interstate Council, a project I had eagerly anticipated. It was set to be a flagship engagement for BHC. I was also invited to be the closing keynote speaker at a major industry conference later this year—a call I had hoped for many years but never received until now. When it finally came, I burst into tears because I had to decline.

Amidst all this, I realised how many of my clients and colleagues are also my friends.

For me, work isn’t just work; it's a way of life.

I'm fortunate to have created a business where my daily work aligns with my passion. The people I’ve met along the way are (mostly!) my kind of people.

Where friend-friends have dropped off homemade soup and the Parents and Friends committee at my children’s school assembled an incredible basket of self-care goodies, the love and support from my professional network - my work-friends - has been profoundly uplifting.

The unwavering encouragement from work friends has been overwhelming and deeply affirming of the impact of my work. Being tagged in posts, receiving messages about things I’ve taught in training, or seeing my influence mentioned in keynotes in Canberra (here’s looking at you, Stephen Yarwood!) has meant the absolute world to me.

So, here's my point: Keep the love flowing.

Keep the love flowing - not just to me but to your colleagues in general. If someone inspires you, tell them. If you love working with someone, tell them. A cancer diagnosis almost feels like an obituary that you get to read. It's a weirdly perverse gift! Let's make telling people how much we love them and their work a bit more common place!

As I navigate this unchosen path, I want to keep you updated. Next week, I will undergo a mastectomy, followed by what will likely be four to six months of chemotherapy. You'll notice from the pic accompanying this article that I am firmly taking control of the 'hair situation' by having a play around with some shorter styles before the inevitable happens.

Staying connected to my professional community is important to me; it’s a significant part of who I am. It turns out I don’t just do community engagement; I am community engagement.

I’ll continue to share updates and would love to hear from you all. Please keep tagging me in work that you think I’d enjoy, find inspiring, or might have influenced. This stuff seriously makes my day.

I don’t yet know what my return will look like, but I know I will come back stronger and likely even more determined. For now, stepping away from self-employment (thanks to trauma insurance: if you're self employed make sure you've got it), has been a good chance to pause and reflect.

My next steps are still unfolding, and while the path ahead is uncertain, I believe something good awaits.

Perhaps this is just the beginning.

Watch this space.